Chennai: The CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR), in collaboration with Dwarka Doss Goverdhan Doss Vaishnav College, organized a National Workshop on 'Capacity Building in Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS): Documentation, Validation, and Communication' in Chennai.

The event, part of CSIR-NIScPR's national initiative SVASTIK (Scientifically Validated Societal Traditional Knowledge), aimed to enhance awareness and dissemination of India's traditional knowledge among faculty, scientists, and science communicators.

The workshop was inaugurated by Padma Shri Prof. M.D. Srinivas, Chairman, Centre for Policy Research, Chennai, along with Dr. K. Vijayalakshmi, Research Director, Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems, and Dr. S. Santhosh Baboo, Principal, DDGD Vaishnav College.

Prof. Srinivas, a distinguished theoretical physicist, delivered the keynote address, emphasizing India's rich intellectual traditions and the need for integrating IKS with modern scientific advancements. The first technical session, chaired by Prof. M.S. Sriram, featured talks on India's scientific heritage by experts, including Dr. Vijayalakshmi, who highlighted indigenous agricultural knowledge and conservation of traditional rice varieties, and Dr. V. Aarthi, who spoke on Siddha medicine's integration with modern healthcare.

A hands-on training session led by Dr. Paramananda Barman and Team SVASTIK focused on effective science communication strategies. The workshop concluded with a feedback session and an exhibition of SVASTIK publications.

Dr. Uthra Dorairajan, Associate Professor, DDGD Vaishnav College, expressed gratitude to the participants, underlining the significance of promoting India's scientific heritage.